UW Impact
State of Trust: Washington’s Political Climate and Voter Priorities
Tues. Oct. 22, 2024 5–6 p.m.
Online
What is the current level of trust in our electoral system? What do Washingtonians see as the top priorities for their elected officials? How do they view candidates running for state and federal office?
The Seattle Times’ Claire Withycombe joins Danielle Lee Tomson from the UW Center for an Informed Public to analyze key findings from the WA Poll, a statewide public opinion survey co-sponsored by the CIP, The Seattle Times and KING5 TV. Tune in online as they offer insights into what these findings reveal about November’s elections, the state of democracy and the future political climate in Washington state. Hanson Hosein moderates the panel.
This event is free. Advance registration is required.
About the Speakers
Hanson Hosein, Moderator
Hanson Hosein is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, strategic communication advisor and leadership expert with over two decades of experience in navigating turbulent and transformative times. As president of HRH Media Group, he specializes in guiding organizations — ranging from multinational corporations to non-profits, tech startups and academia — through digital transformation, narrative pivots and organizational change. During his time at the University of Washington, Hanson co-founded and led the Communication Leadership graduate program and supported the launch of the Center for an Informed Public. He has a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and law degrees from McGill University and Paris-Panthéon-Assas University.Claire Withycombe
Claire Withycombe has been the state government reporter for The Seattle Times since late 2022. Before that, she covered Oregon politics and government for six years.Danielle Lee Thomson
Center for an Informed Public research manager Danielle Lee Tomson leads the CIP’s election rumor research efforts, which adapts innovative research methods — integrating qualitative, quantitative, visual and generative AI approaches in the analysis of online information flows — to the challenge of rapidly discovering, analyzing and reporting on election-related rumors and disinformation campaigns. Receiving her doctoral degree in communication from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2023, Tomson’s dissertation is an ethnography of political social media influencers. Her research focuses on the ways political actors use the performance, storytelling, and entertainment conventions of popular culture to achieve their goals. Her expertise touches on themes of public trust in institutions, alternative epistemologies, propaganda, political subcultures, platform politics, and nationalist-populism. Tomson’s writing and commentary have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Washington Post, HuffPost, CNBC, Fox News, Brookings, Mother Jones and more.Presented in partnership with:
